White House Braces For Russian Retaliation Over Ukraine -- Josh Rogin, Daily Beast
If the U.S. moves to sanction Putin and his pals next week, Moscow will definitely strike back. Inside the Obama administration, officials are gearing up for an economic Cold War.
As Russian tanks amass on the Ukrainian border and John Kerry travels for a last-ditch meeting with his Russian counterpart, signs are increasing that Washington and Moscow are preparing for a series of punitive and retaliatory measures following a planned referendum in Crimea on Sunday.
President Obama and his team have repeatedly and loudly warned Vladimir Putin that unless Russia deescalates the current crisis, the U.S. in conjunction with its European partners will begin to increase the “costs” for the Russian government and business community, through a series of sanctions and other tactics. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the Obama administration is preparing for the blowback that will sure come when Russia retaliates.
“Of course we are looking at the possibility of retaliation,” one administration official told The Daily Beast. “We’re looking at all areas of cooperation we have with the Russians.
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My Comment: The Europeans are also waiting for "blow back".
1 comment:
The US and EU economies are very fragile, and yes so is Russia's. So who stands to lose the most in an economic tit for tat? I would bet the West. Just look at the wild market swings of the last year. Many based on mere rumors of government monetary policy change. Deep down the EU economic structure and policy is rotten to the core barely being held together and this in relatively calm international environment. The US economy is still fairly healthy from overall, but will not take a shock very well.Putin knows all this and he knows his economy will suffer, but not as much and he'll bet on it. I would.
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